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Online Extra: Memphis airport likely not badly affected by cuts

MEMPHIS — If automatic federal spending cuts begin Friday, a result could be shutting down two out of three security checkpoints at Memphis International Airport.

But airport CEO Larry Cox also told The Commercial Appeal a smaller number of passengers using the airport recently could blunt the impact of such reductions.

Officials said if the reductions kick in, the effect would likely not be evident for about a month. Even then, they would probably not seriously disrupt operations at Memphis, the airport also used by FedEx, where the company has a major parcel sorting hub.

However, Cox said cuts would probably affect the nation’s largest airports, creating a travel situation akin to flight disruptions caused by poor weather.

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Thousands of Fort Campbell employees face furlough

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. — On the eve of automatic military budget cuts, Fort Campbell’s garrison commander says the installation’s 8,000 civilian employees could face up to 22 unpaid days off this year.

Col. David L. “Buck” Dellinger told reporters Thursday that Fort Campbell’s leaders are making budget decisions sometimes on an hourly basis to prepare for $55 million in budget cuts scheduled to take effect on Friday.

The installation on the Tennessee-Kentucky state line is hosting town hall meetings in the coming days with staff and soldiers.

Dellinger said they have to balance providing training for thousands of soldiers who are preparing to deploy to Afghanistan this year, while finding savings in areas like civilian employee salaries, maintenance and other operating costs.

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